Envelope



L. G. SIMJIAN June 8, 1965 ENVELOPE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 9, 1963 FIG. 2

FIG.

f wfg j K @ofr LUTHER G. SIMJIAN INVENTOR ATTORNEY June 8, 1965 L. G. slMJlAN .3,187,986

ENVELOPE Filed oct. 9, 1965 2 sheets-sheet 2 I I I 214 s l i 22o 220 l g als i l 24o 25e 24 24o 236' 21a 25851 FIG. 7

ATTORNEY EM AGEN y autres Patented June 8, 1965 3,1%?,986 Y ENVELIE Luther G. Sirnjian, Greenwich, tintin., assigner to UniversalY Match Corporatisn, St. Louis, Mo., a corporation of Eelavvaref Filed @et 9, 1963, Ser. No. 314,945 4 Claims. (Cl. 229-63) This application is a continuation-in-part of Serial No.

288,105, tiled on June 17,4 1963, now abandoned. i This invention relates to packaging devices and more particularly to an envelope for transporting documents.

The envelope of this invention is especially suited for` use with a bank depository machine of a type similar to that disclosed in U.S.` Patent No. 3,076,965, granted to me on February 5, 1963. This type of machine is adapted to receive an` envelope containing a plurality of documents, such as paper` currency and checks,` to eX- tract the paper currency and checks fromthe envelope, to individually photograph and to store the paper currency and checks, and to provide a receipt for the transaction.'

By such an arrangement, the depositor may at his convenience insert the paper currency and checks which he intends to deposit into the envelope and seal the envelope. The envelope may then later be` personally init may be sent through the mails to the bank, wherein the envelope, without being first opened, is insertedinto the depository machine. v

` It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide an envelope for transporting documents, whichenvelope may be automatically opened by a machine andthe documents extracted without the possibility of Vdamage to the documents.-

yAnother object is to provide an envelope which automatically creates an identication sheet which may be extracted with the other Vcontents from the envelope.

A further object is to provide an envelope for enclosing documents, which Aenvelope may `be Vopened by mechanical means and the documents extracted andrecorded without human intervention. f

A feature of this invention comprises a pair of outer panels joined or joinable along their perimeters, one

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of an Vassembled envelope illustrating a rst embodiment of this invention;

FIGURE 2 Iis a plan viewof ablank which, when assembled, forms the envelope of FIGURE 1;,L

` FIGURE `3.is a frontview in cross-section, on an 'enlarged scale, taken along line Sri-Sin FIGURE l;

' FIGURE 4 is an'fend View in crosssecti0n, on an enlarged scale, taken along line -4-4 in FIGUREI;

p FIGURE 5 is a plan view of an assembledenvelope illustrating asecond embodiment of'this invention;

FIGURE 6 isa plan View of a blankwhich, when as- ,.sembled, forms the envelope of ,FIGURE 5;"V

FIGURE 7 is a front view in cross-section, onV anl enlarged scale taken along line 7-7 in FIGURE 5; Y

FIGURE 8 is an end'viewin cross-section, on an en# Alarged scale, taken along line 8 8 inFIGURE 7; and

FIGURE 9 is a sectional vew of a detail of an additional `modification of this invention.

Turning to the drawings, an envelope 1t) is;shown assembled and `sealed in FIGURE 1. This envelope is formed from a single blank of paper 12, as shown in FIGURE 2. l

Thepaperblank 12 includes a first quadrilateral panel Y 14, a second quadrilateral panel 16 joined to the panel 14 at a fold line 18, and a quadrilateral baille panel 20 joined to the panel 16 at a fold line 22. The panels 14 and 16 are `substantially symmetrically identical about the axis of symmetry provided by the fold line 18. The

p panels 14, 16, and Ztl are here shown as rectangles, however, itis within the ambit of this invention to utilize other geometric shapes. r

A side flap 24 is joined to the panell4 at a foldline 26. A top flap 28 is joined to the panel 14 at a fold line 39. A multifold plait 32 is provided by a leg panel 34 which is joined to the panel 14 at a fold line Se?,

a leg panel 38 which is joined to the panel 34 at a v joined to the `strip of adhesive` is provided along theV fold line 44 on the panel 38, at 54, and adhesive is provided over the full surface of the side flap 42. The adhesive is applied to the upper surface of the paper blank 12, as shown in FIGURE 2, and this upper surface will generally form the inner surfaces of the envelope 10. r The paper blank 12 `is folded concavely along the fold lines l, 22, 26, 30,36, and 44, and is folded convexly along the fold line 4d. As is shown in FIGURES 1, 3, and 4, when the envelope is assembled, the panel 14 forms the envelopes outer bottom wall, the panel 16 ``formsthe outer top Wall, and the panel 2tl'isV disposed between these two walls in the` enclosure provided thereby. VThe side flap 24 `is folded over and secured to the outer surface of the panel 16. The fold line 36 forms A the vertexl of a first externally directed fold, the fold line 4i) forms the vertex of a mediate, internally directed fold, and the fold line 44 forms the vertex of a second externally directed fold. `The side flap 42 is folded over and secured to` the outer surface of the panel 16. The vertex of the rst fold is made rigid by the adhesive strips 50 andV 52 which are adhered to each other. Sim- 4ilarly, the vertex of the second fold'is given rigidity by sembled envelope `to indicate the orientation of the envelope. This indicium is here shown as two notches 58 and 5t) cut into the edges of thetwo externally directed folds, as shown in FIGURES l and 3. In FIGURE 3 the notch through the first foldis shown as 58a, and

- the notch through the second fold -is shown as SSb.

It is desirable to have a tally sheet bearing the de- Y positors name and addesss handled by the depository machine together with the` enclosed documents. For thisk purpose a portion 62 of the upper surface of the panel 16 is coated with carbon or a chemical agent for transferring impressions. When the depositor writes his name and address on the outer surface of the panel 15, as shown in FIGURE l, the impression of this writing will be reproducedV on the baille panel 2t). When the panel 20 is severed from the panel 15, as will be described below, this baille panel will serve as a tally sheet and will be removed kfrom the envelope with the other document.

It is also desirable to have the tally sheet serve as an itemized listing of theY documents enclosed. To accomplish this, the ilap 28 is formed of greater length, as shown in the dotted lines in FIGURE l at 64. The listing is written out by the depositor on the Aouter surface of the panel 16, above the name and address, in the area which will be covered, as will be described below, by the ilap 28. The impression of this listing will also :be reproduced on the baille panel Ztl. The adhesive strip ed is arranged so that when the ilap is sealed, the strip 48 will be disposed between the area for the name and address and the area for the listing.

In use, the depositor Writes his return address and the itemized listing of enclosed documents on the outer surface'of the panel 16. The documents are inserted into the enclosure formed by the panel 14 and the baille panel 2i?, and the flap 23 is folded over-and secured tothe outer surface of the panel 16, thereby ysealing the documents in the envelope. It may be noted .that the only space presented to the depositor for insertion of documents is the space between the panel 14 and the baille panel 2t). The space between the panel 16 and the baille panel 20 is concealed and is inaccessible. AWhen the envelope is received by the depository machine, the notches 58 and 50 are sensed by the machine to properly orient the Venvelope for opening. An opening means, such as a bladelike element, shown in FIGURE 3 in dotted lines at 66, is thrust at the multifold plait of the envelope Vsubstantially at the fold line 4t). The blade-like element passes between the two externally directed'folds and cuts through and severs the internally directed fold. As the blade-like element passes into the interior of the envelope it is deflected by the baille panel Ztl away from the documents, and passes between the baille panel 2li yand the panel 16. It may be noted that by virtue of the left edge of the panel 20 being tucked into the iirst fold, the blade-like element is precluded from engaging thisedge, or more than glancing against the surfaces of the panel 20, and is, therefore, precluded from striking the enclosed documents. Therfold lines 18, 26, 40, and the adjacent fold linesV L22 and, 30 are subsequentlyl severed, leaving the envelope open along all'four edges; The documents and the severed baille panel 2@ are now removed. VTypical envelope opening means comprise, aside from the bladelike instrument indicated, a pivoted shearing mechanism, and a movable wire instrumentality. In each instance, however, the fold acts as an entrance guide for the cutting instrumentality and the baille panel shieldsthedocuments Y from thisy instrumentality.

The envelope 210 of the second embodiment, shown in A lFIGURES 5, 6, 7, and 8, is formed from a paper blank 212 which includes a first vpanel 214, a second panel `216 joined tothe panel 214 at a fold line 218, Vand a baille panel 220 joined to the panel 216 at a fold line 222.

A iirst multifold plait 232 is provided by a'leg panel V23d which is joined to the panel 214 at a fold line 23:6, a leg panel 23SV which is joined to the panel 234 at a fold line 240, *andy a side ilap 242 which is joined to the panel 238 at a fold line 244. A second multifold plaitk Y 232 is provided by a leg panel 234 whichV is joined to the panel 214V at a fold line 236',` a leg panel 23S which ,is joined to the `panel 234' at a fold line 240', and a side arenoso ilap 242' which is joined to the panel 238 at a fold line 244. A top ilap 228 is joined to the panel 214 at a fold line 23th. Adhesive is applied to one surface of the blank 212 as shown in FIGURE 6 at 24S, 250, 252, and on 242; Vand at 250', 252', 254, and on 242.

When the paper blank is folded and glued the fold line .236 forms the vertex of a rst externally Vdirected fold,

the fold line 24) forms the vertex of a mediate, internally directed fold, and the fold line 244 forms the vertex of a second externally directed fold, to comprise the left plait 232. The right plait 232 is similarlyicomprised. The left and the right edges of the baille panel 22@ are respec- V tively disposed in the first folds of the left 'and ther right plaits, as shown in FIGURE 7, but are-not joined thereto. The Vbaille panel 22@A and the panel 214 form' a subenclosure which is adapted to receive a plurality of documents, here shown as a single document 2756.

An indicium 257, here shown as a postage stamp, is disposed on the panel 214. Additional indicia, here shown as notches 25? and 260, and 2591 and 26u', are respectively cut into the left plait 232 and the right plait 232. The indicium 257 may be sensed by the .depository machine to orient the panel 214, while the other indicia may be sensed to orient the plait which is to be initially wide foldV and not the narrow fold.

opened by the opening means Vof the depository machine.

The use of the impression transfer agent 262 for providing a duplicate senderis address-and itemized list of the enclosed documents is similar to that previously described with respect to the iirst embodiment. V`

This second embodiment is utilized in a manner similar to that for the ilrstembodiment, the documents are inserted into the sub-enclosure provided by the baille panel 22@ and the panel 214%,V When the envelope is received by the depositorymachine, either end may beV initiallyopened, thereby minimizing the maximum rotation and adjustment that mayv have to be applied tothe envelope to properly present'it to the depository machine.

An additional'modiiication of this invention is shown in FIGURE 9. In this modication the two folds of each plait of the envelopeare formed of unequal width. Thus, inthe exemplary case of the plait 332, Vthe-fold including the fold line 33e which receives the baille panel 32@ and the document 356 is madevnarrower than the fold including the fold line 3ft-i. The plait 332 may be spread apart, to receive the dagger-like element at the'fold line 341i, by a projecting arm whichengages ,and `depresses the It is thus apparent that the envelope of this invention is ideally adapted for transmitting certain types of documents which can be extracted-from the envelope, and be suitably processed subsequent to such extraction, all this being accomplished without human intervention.

While certain embodiments of this invention have been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that Yother modiilcations maybe made without departing from the principles of this invention which shall be limited solely by the scopeY of the appended claims.

I claim: 1. An envelopecomprising: v Y aiirst and a secondsubstantially symmetrically quadrilateral outer panel; yeach of three of said laterals of said ilrst outer panel having a juncturewith a corresponding lateral 0f said second outer panel, said outer Ypanels thereby forming an enclosure; one of said outer panels having a flap attached to said fourth lateral thereof for overlying said other of said outer panels for providingA a juncture between saidfourth laterals and thereby closingsaid enclosure; Y a quadrilateral baille panel disposedwithin said enclosure and substantially coextensive with the interior of said enclosure; Y said fourth lateral of lsaid second outer panel having a juncture with the adjacent lateral of said baflie panel; said baffle panel dividing said enclosure into a first and a second chamber;

said rst chamber being formed by said bafe panel and said first outer panel and having an aperture at said fourth lateral of said first outer panel, and adapted to receive documents therethrough;

said second chamber being formed by said second baffle panel and said second outer panel and being inaccessible at all of said laterals of said outer panels;

one of said junctures between said first and said second outer panels including a plait having a first externally directed 4fold adjacent said iirst outer panel, a second externally directed fold adjacent said second outer panel, and therebetween an internally directed fold;

said first and said second externally directed folds being partially sealed along the direction of the major axis of said folds to impart rigidity to said folds;

one of said laterals of said balile panel being freely disposed within the open portion of said first externally directed fold;

whereby when an opening means is thrust through said internally directed fold, the opening means is guided by said baie panel into said second chamber.

2. An envelope for use in conjunction with a depository apparatus which is provided with means for receiving and for opening an envelope and for freeing articles contained therein, said envelope comprising: p

a pair of four-sided panels forming a front and a back panel respectively, said panels joined to one another along three sides to provide an enclosure;

each of the joints along two opposite ones of said `sides including respectively a fluted fold having a vertex reaching into said enclosure and two vertices, substantially coextensive with said sides, constituting the lateral limits of said envelope;

said fold along said two vertices being partially sealed along the direction of the major axis of said folds to impart rigidity to said folds;

a bafiie disposed within said enclosure juxtaposed on one panel and terminating laterally in the open portion of said respective folds and arranged relative to said folds to cause articles inserted into said enclosure from the fourth side to be disposed between one of the panels and said baie, and to cause opening means inserted into the envelope at said vertex to be disposed between said bathe and the other panel whereby the batile acts as a shield for articles disposed in said enclosure.

3. An envelope comprising:

a first and a second substantially symmetrically identical quadrilateral outer panel;

each of three of said laterals of said first outer panel having a juncture with a corresponding lateral of said second outer panel, said panels thereby forming an enclosure;

one of said junctures including a plait having a first externally directed fold adjacent said first outer panel, a second externally directed fold adjacent said second outer panel, and therebetween an internally directed fold, one of said externally directed folds being of greater width than the other of said externally directed folds;

a quadrilateral baffle panel disposed within said enclosure and substantially coextensive with the interior of said enclosure, said baffle panel and said first outer panel forming a sub-enclosure for receiving documents;

one of said laterals of said balie panel being freely dis posed within said first externally directed fold.

4. An envelope comprising:

a first and a second substantially symmetrically identical quadrilateral outer panel;

each of three of said laterals of said first outer panel having a juncture with a corresponding lateral of said second outer panel, said panels thereby forming an enclosure;

each of the junctures along two opposite ones of said laterals including a plait, each of said two plaits having a first externally directed fold adjacent said first outer panel, a second externally directed fold adjacent said second outer panel, and therebetween aninternally directed fold, one of said externally directed folds being of greater width than the other of said externally directed folds;

one of said outer panels having a ap attached to said fourth lateral thereof for overlying said other of said outer panels for providing a juncture between said fourth laterals and thereby closing said enclosure;

a quadrilateral baffle panel disposed within said enclosure and substantially coextensive with the interior of said enclosure, said baiiie panel and said first outer panel forming a sub-enclosure for receiving documents;

one of said laterals of said baille panel being freely disposed within said first externally directed fold of one of said plaits, and another of said laterals of said baie panel being freely disposed within said first externally directed fold of the other of said plaits.

References Cited bythe Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,434,097 l0/ 22 Conner 229-68 1,567,875 12/725 Swanson 229-92. l 2,128,275 8/ 38 Vogel 229-92.7 2,675,170 4/ 5 4 Sebesta.

3,023,947 3 /62 McDufie 229-55 3,073,508 l/ 63 Hiersteiner 229-68 3,076,965 2/ 63 Simjian.

FRANKLIN T. GARRETT, Primary Examiner. 

1. AN ENVELOPE COMPRISING: A FIRST AND A SECOND SUBSTANTIALLY SYMMETRICALLY QUADRILATERAL OUTER PANEL; EACH OF THREE OF SAID LATERAL OF SAID FIRST OUTER PANEL HAVING A JUNCTURE WITH A CORRESPONDING LATERAL OF SAID SECOND OUTER PANEL, SAID OUTER PANELS THEREBY FORMING AN ENCLOSURE; ONE OF SAID OUTER PANELS HAVING A FLAP ATTACHED TO SAID FOURTH LATERAL THEREOF FOR OVERLYING SAID OTHER OF SAID OUTER PANELS FOR PROVIDING A JUNCTURE BETWEEN SAID FOURTH LATERALS AND THEREBY CLOSING SAID ENCLOSURE; A QUADRILATERAL BAFFLE PANEL DISPOSED WITHIN SAID ENCLOSURE AND SUBSTANTIALLY COEXTENSIVE WITH THE INTERIOR OF SAID ENCLOSURE; SAID FOURTH LATERAL OF SAID SECOND OUTER PANEL HAVING A JUNCTURE WITH THE ADJACENT LATERAL OF SAID BAFFLE PANELS; SAID BAFFLE PANEL DIVIDING SAID ENCLOSURE INTO A FIRST AND A SECOND CHAMBER; SAID FIRST CHAMBER BEING FORMED BY SAID BAFFLE PANEL AND SAID FIRST OUTER PANEL AND HAVING AN APERTURE AT SAID FOURTH LATERAL OF SAID FIRST OUTER PANEL, AND ADAPTED TO RECEIVE DOCUMENTS THERETHROUGH; SAID SECOND CHAMBER BEING FORMED BY SAID SECOND BAFFLE PANEL AND SAID SECOND OUTER PANEL AND BEING INACCESSIBLE AT ALL OF SAID LATERALS OF SAID OUTER PANELS; ONE OF SAID JUNCTURES BETWEEN SAID FIRST AND SAID SECOND 